The current and 10th generation of the Honda Civic sedan arrived locally in 2016 and has subsequently received some updates to the exterior and interior. Currently, customers can choose between four sedan derivatives and one hatch variant that takes the shape of the performance-oriented Civic Type R.
However, what if a customer is in the market for an earlier used example of the Civic sedan? Would it be any good? We take a closer look at the vehicle's specification, performance and estimated service costs to find out if it is a good option.
Related: Find new or used Honda Civic models on AutoTrader here
Specification
In terms of exterior styling, there are some differences in the front and rear when compared to the current iteration of the Civic. However, for the most part, the overall design remains much the same, which is a statement of its timeless design. A similar theme appears on the interior of the model as the noise, vibration and harshness levels have been bolstered and a few new trim materials were introduced.
Safety
Although you might expect the older Honda Civic to offer fewer safety features than the latest iterations, the earlier models already incorporated very high levels of standard safety equipment. Customers can expect vehicle stability control, a hill-start assist system and ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution to feature as standard.
In addition to this, the Honda Civic also offers no less than six airbags taking shape as dual front, side and curtain airbags.
Performance
In terms of performance, not much has changed between the 2016 and 2019 models. The Civic sedan models can either be had with a 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine producing 104 kW and 174 Nm of torque or a 1.5-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol motor developing 127 kW and 220 Nm. All the engines in the sedan offerings are coupled to a 5-step CVT transmission.
Honda claims that the average combined fuel consumption return of the 1.8-litre derivatives is 6.3 L / 100 km while the 1.5T variants are claimed to return 5.9 L / 100 km.
Quality and reliability
According to a J.D. Power customer survey completed in the United States of America on the 2016 model year Honda Civic, the Japanese sedan scored 74 points out of a possible 100 for quality and reliability. The areas of measurement included defects, malfunctions, and design flaws experienced by vehicle owners anywhere in the vehicle from the engine and drivetrain to the infotainment system.
Verdict
Considering how similar the 2016 model year Civic is to the current iteration of the Japanese sedan, and how highly it scored in a customer survey, it is safe to say that the Honda Civic will make for a good used vehicle. However, the reliability and quality of the model you choose will greatly rely on the vehicle's ownership history.
